Genres: Young Adult, YA Fantasy, Fantasy | Release Date: 16 August 2022 | Standalone | Pages: 314 | Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton | Review
“A person with a knife was one thing. A person with a knife and a cause could topple kingdoms.”
Emily Lloyd-Jones
Overview:
The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones was a fantasy I had been eagerly anticipating for months! After reading The Bone Houses earlier this year, I was certain this new book would be something special. And I was right!
Mer is a water diviner, the last of her kind. Having escaped from Prince Garanhir, she’s been living a quiet life for some time now. But when Renfrew (her old mentor) appears and requests her magic for one last job, she finds it impossible to say no. It turns out that Renfrew wants to break the prince’s power and thus a quest with three others begins… But along the way, mythological beasts will turn on them, dire warnings will be left unheeded, and Mer’s magic may not be enough to save everyone.
Happiness Boost:
Straight up, did anyone else get Elsa (Frozen II) vibes in some parts?! Yes this is a massive compliment! Mer is just so inspiring, even though she’d probably say otherwise. She has been searching for freedom for years, and it hurt my heart to hear how Mer never felt valued as a person, only for her magic. Her strength of will is exceptional and I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug her. This is a heroine who will stay with you, long after you’ve moved onto another story.
CORGI! WE GET A CORGI! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! I always used to think they were cute, but in recent years I have become ridiculously excited over corgi goodness. And dear little Trefor is just the bee’s knees. I love his personality and the fact that they have to make allowances for a corgi’s little legs on this adventure. Plus, even though I haven’t read it yet, Emily promised a chapter from his POV and it’s on her site (go, go, go)!
The Drowned Woods is like a sweet hello from my childhood. What am I babbling about? Well, this gave me the same exquisitely sweet vibes as the books I read all those years ago, by Tamora Pierce, Brandon Hull, and Kristin Cashore. That’s pretty impressive company! And this YA fantasy effortlessly delivers. Emily’s books are a must buy for me, because you don’t get stories this incredible every day.
Downside:
No downside!!
Final Thoughts:
The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones is a tale you’ll want on your bookshelf. This YA fantasy delivers in so many ways on the allure of magic and adventure. I didn’t want to reach the end, but I know I’ll be re-reading this book for decades to come! If you love courageous heroines, corgis, untameable magic? Get The Drowned Woods right now. I have loved every second of it and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can order The Drowned Woods via these links:
